1st of the month featured blogger: november
Yes I know it’s already November 3, but it’s never too late for the 1st of the Month Featured Blogger, is it? Besides, I’ve been busily working on my NaNoWriMo novel–you can keep up with my word count in the sidebar (and if you’re wondering, I decided to go with something brand new and left last year’s novel for another month…but that’s all I’m saying for now!).
This month I’d like you to introduce you (or re-introduce you as the case may be) to Diana Strinati Baur of the blog Creative Structures and of the Baur B & B in Piemonte, northern Italy.
Diane is a wonderful potter and writer who I’ve gotten to know better through an online friend of mine and a real life friend of hers–Gina DePalma, who you’ve already heard a great deal about here through the Dolce Italiano and O Foods for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Contests.
Diana’s attitude toward life is so inspiring and refreshing, but if you’ve caught any of her comments here, you probably already know that. She recently wrote a great post about life after 40 entitled “Sister Girl Tales,” inspired by another of my favorite bloggers, NYC/Caribbean Ragazza.
Here is a snippet of Diana’s post:
I look at myself now and realized it took all of that to become the kind of person who can be content sitting on a hill and creating. I am content with the person I am today. I also wish for myself less work and more joy.
Over the years, [my sister] and I both have started untying the knots of our complicated selves. We both do truly see that getting the most out of these days we have now is of utmost importance. This knowledge forges us together in the strongest of ways.
Staying healthy and happy in mid life is easier with a sister to lean on. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
Here are some of Diana’s gorgeous creations, Japanese drinking bowls:
And a glimpse of her life in Piemonte:
Now go visit Diana and tell her I sent you!
13 Beans of Wisdom to “1st of the month featured blogger: november”
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
Calabria Guidebook
Recipes
Pretty neat drinking bowls. Funny that the green in the bowls matches the green shutters on the windows in the photo of Piemonte!
Diana is *so* crafty, isn’t she, Gil? 😉
oh my oh my — I come on line this morning with my coffee and find this. How lovely and kind of you, Michelle, you know the sentiment is very reciprocated. Thank you.
I didn’t realize until I glanced between my new photo and yours over there that, geez, we really could be sisters 🙂
Excellent choice! I love Diana’s new blog 🙂 She has so many talents. I have been very lucky to spend a bit of time with her on two occasions. We clicked right away. I wish we didn’t live so far away from each other. By the way, congrats on your Phillies win! Hoping for another BIG win on Tuesday 🙂
Woohoo! Only one more day!
Thanks for introducing Diana…I love pottery & what she makes is gorgeous, as is her house! Am off to check her blog…
deeba’s last blog post..CHOCOLATE FUDGE & SPICY NUTS…TRYING TO BE A DOMESTIC GODDESS !!
Enjoy Deeba! I know you will 🙂
I love Diana’s blog as well. Her writing is so beautiful. Someday I hope to purchase some of her work.
Thanks for the link.
My pleasure 🙂
That is one sweet b & b.
running42k’s last blog post..Stressing
Pretty, huh? Wish I lived closer for a weekend getaway….
I’ll have to head right on over there. Pottery, B&B and Italy- yeah I’m already a fan.
Thanks!
My Mélange’s last blog post..Election ’08
You’ll love it at Diana’s, Robin; I just know it 🙂
Grazie Michelle for writing about Di! She is one of my dearest friends and her B&B is truly special. How sweet of you! xx
Thanks for adding your praise Megan 🙂
Great, there’s another blogger participating to NaNoWriMo.
I’ve just discovered the initiative and I’m thinking on my novel topic, hoping to be able to accomplished it.
Rossella’s last blog post..Per Laura
Do it Rossella! Even if we only get a few thousand words in, it’s still more than we had on 31 October, right?
Another wonderful featured blogger! I love those bowls and the B&B looks so pretty too! ; )
One more day until the election! I’m so nervous; I’m just beside myself!!!!!
Anali’s last blog post..Cakelicious!!
I’m with you Anali!
Thanks so much for introducing me to Diana’s blog. I found her very entertaining and insightful – I will definitely visit her again!
…gnawing my fingernails straight down to bone, waiting to see what happens tomorrow…
Cheers!
Kate
Glad you enjoyed Diana’s place…and I’m nervous too, Kate. Big time.
I found Diana blog sometime ago, while doing ‘some research’! It’s great isn’t it, she writes beautifully and has a great eye for detail. I am also extremely jealous of her gorgeous chefs kitchen!
Woohoo, the word counts coming along nicely over there!
amanda@A Tuscan View…’s last blog post..Day of the Dead
I know, right? That kitchen looks gorgeous! And yes, the word count is creeping, creeping….
Hey, I haven’t been by in a while. I’m doing NaNo again this year too. You are way ahead of me.
I’d love to visit the blogger in Piedmont. I miss Italy so much sometimes. I cooked Faro a couple of times in the past few weeks. It turns out my younger son, a picky eater, loves it. It makes me nostalgic for Lucca where I stayed the two summers I was in Italy.
When I’m an empty nester, maybe I’ll spend all my summers there.
Happy writing.
sarala’s last blog post..Obama Wins!
So happy you’ve been able to incorporate at least a bit of your Italian memories into your life…and happy writing to you as well!